N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 604

§ 604. Definitions. As used in this article, the following terms shall\nhave the following meanings:\n 1. "Consumer claim" means any obligation of a natural person for the\npayment of money or its equivalent which is or is alleged to be in\ndefault and which arises out of a transaction wherein credit has been\noffered or extended to a natural person, and the money, property or\nservice which was the subject of the transaction was primarily for\npersonal, family or household purposes. Such term includes an obligation\nof a natural person who is a co-maker, endorser, guarantor or surety as\nwell as the natural person to whom such credit was originally extended.\n 2. "Debtor" means any natural person who owes or who is asserted to\nowe a consumer claim.\n 3. "Principal creditor" means any person, firm, corporation or\norganization to whom a consumer claim is owed, due or asserted to be due\nor owed, or any assignee for value of such person, firm, corporation or\norganization. Such term shall include any person, firm or corporation\nengaged in business, the principal purpose of which is to regularly\ncollect or attempt to collect debts obtained by or assigned to such\nperson, firm or corporation, that are in default when obtained or\nacquired by such person, firm or corporation.\n